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Praying through Advent

“The advent of our God Shall be our theme for prayer;Come, let us meet him on the roadAnd place for him prepare” (Lutheran Book of Worship, 22).

Advent
is a rich time for prayer. It invites us to pause, to wait, to be
still—the stance for much prayer anyway. We can take our cues from this
first hymn in the Lutheran Book of Worship and make Christ’s coming the
theme for prayer. Our prayers can help us meet him and prepare a place
for him.

How do we do this? There are several ways. What works for you may not be the best for another.

•
Advent hymns, like the one above, are a good way to begin quiet time
and prayer. Read a verse or two, reflect on the images and let that
lead to your prayer content. One phrase from a hymn can provide yeast
for a full measure of prayer and reflection time.

• The
lectionary during Advent can shape your prayer life. It’s helpful to
read the lessons for the coming Sunday as your daily meditation. You
might read a small portion each day. Or read the entire Gospel lesson
daily, observing which phrases jump out at you on a particular day and
praying with whatever that suggests for you.